The 65th National Open Athletics Championships 2026 will take place from 8 to 11 October at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. Over four days, India’s senior athletes will contest 48 finals, from the men’s pole vault on Thursday afternoon to the men’s 4x400m relay on Sunday night.
This page has the full day-wise schedule with timings in IST, as well as the time of every final, the entry standards and the rules for athletes. We will also add results here after each session, so athletes, coaches and families can follow the whole meet in one place.
National Open Athletics Championships 2026 at a glance
- Dates: Thursday 8 October to Sunday 11 October 2026
- Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi
- Organiser: Athletics Federation of India (AFI)
- Finals: 48 in total, with 21 men’s and 21 women’s individual events as well as six relays
- Sessions: mornings from 7:30 am, with the race walks before 6:00 am; evenings start between 4:00 pm and 5:20 pm and end by about 8:00 pm
- Official schedule: download the schedule PDF
Jump to: Final timings Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Results Entry standards
National Open Athletics Championships 2026 schedule: how the four days break down
The programme builds towards the weekend. Thursday has seven finals, Friday has 14 and Saturday has 11, while Sunday closes the meet with 16. Each day runs in two sessions: a short morning session for the combined events and race walks, and then a long evening session under lights for the track and field finals.
Finals per day
When is each final? Timings for every event
If you are following one athlete or one event, this is the table you need. All timings are in IST and come from the official schedule (version 1.0, dated 30 September 2026).
Track finals
| Event | Men’s final | Women’s final |
|---|---|---|
| 100m | Fri 9 Oct, 6:30 pm | Thu 8 Oct, 6:30 pm |
| 200m | Sun 11 Oct, 6:10 pm | Sun 11 Oct, 6:00 pm |
| 400m | Fri 9 Oct, 6:10 pm | Fri 9 Oct, 6:00 pm |
| 800m | Sun 11 Oct, 6:30 pm | Sun 11 Oct, 6:20 pm |
| 1500m | Fri 9 Oct, 7:35 pm | Fri 9 Oct, 7:25 pm |
| 5000m | Sat 10 Oct, 7:40 pm | Thu 8 Oct, 7:45 pm |
| 10,000m | Thu 8 Oct, 8:05 pm | Sat 10 Oct, 7:00 pm |
| 110m / 100m hurdles | Fri 9 Oct, 6:50 pm | Fri 9 Oct, 7:10 pm |
| 400m hurdles | Sun 11 Oct, 5:30 pm | Sun 11 Oct, 5:45 pm |
| 3000m steeplechase | Sun 11 Oct, 7:00 pm | Sun 11 Oct, 7:20 pm |
Field events, race walks, relays and combined events
| Event | Men’s final | Women’s final |
|---|---|---|
| High jump | Sat 10 Oct, 5:20 pm | Sun 11 Oct, 5:50 pm |
| Pole vault | Thu 8 Oct, 4:25 pm | Sat 10 Oct, 4:40 pm |
| Long jump | Sun 11 Oct, 6:35 pm | Sat 10 Oct, 6:40 pm |
| Triple jump | Fri 9 Oct, 6:30 pm | Thu 8 Oct, 7:10 pm |
| Shot put | Sat 10 Oct, 4:45 pm | Fri 9 Oct, 6:20 pm |
| Discus throw | Fri 9 Oct, 6:40 pm | Thu 8 Oct, 6:40 pm |
| Hammer throw | Thu 8 Oct, 4:45 pm | Sat 10 Oct, 5:00 pm |
| Javelin throw | Sun 11 Oct, 5:20 pm | Sat 10 Oct, 6:15 pm |
| Half marathon race walk | Fri 9 Oct, 5:45 am | Fri 9 Oct, 5:47 am |
| Marathon race walk | Sun 11 Oct, 5:40 am | Sun 11 Oct, 5:42 am |
| 4x100m relay | Sat 10 Oct, 6:45 pm | Sat 10 Oct, 6:35 pm |
| 4x400m relay | Sun 11 Oct, 7:50 pm | Sun 11 Oct, 7:40 pm |
| Decathlon / Heptathlon | Ends Fri 9 Oct, 7:45 pm (1500m) | Ends Sun 11 Oct, 6:40 pm (800m) |
In addition, the two mixed relays are on separate nights: the 4x100m mixed relay final is on Fri 9 Oct, 8:00 pm and the 4x400m mixed relay final is on Sat 10 Oct, 8:00 pm.
National Open Athletics Championships 2026: full day-wise schedule
Rows marked FINAL decide medals. Everything else is either a heat, a qualification round or a combined-event discipline.
Day 1: Thursday 8 October 2026 (7 finals)
The meet opens with the decathlon 100m at 7:30 am. After that, the men’s pole vault decides the first medals from 4:25 pm. In addition, the women’s 100m has its heats and its final on the same evening.
| Time (IST) | Event | Category | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:30 am | 100m | Men | Decathlon |
| 8:15 am | Long jump | Men | Decathlon |
| 8:30 am | Discus throw | Men | Qualification, Group A |
| 9:30 am | Shot put | Men | Decathlon |
| 9:40 am | Discus throw | Men | Qualification, Group B |
| 4:00 pm | 400m | Women | Round 1 |
| 4:25 pm | Pole vault | Men | FINAL |
| 4:30 pm | 400m | Men | Round 1 |
| 4:40 pm | High jump | Men | Decathlon |
| 4:45 pm | Hammer throw | Men | FINAL |
| 5:00 pm | 100m | Men | Round 1 |
| 5:30 pm | 100m | Women | Round 1 |
| 6:10 pm | 100m | Men | Semi-final |
| 6:30 pm | 100m | Women | FINAL |
| 6:40 pm | Discus throw | Women | FINAL |
| 6:50 pm | 400m | Men | Decathlon |
| 7:10 pm | Triple jump | Women | FINAL |
| 7:10 pm | 400m | Women | Semi-final |
| 7:25 pm | 400m | Men | Semi-final |
| 7:45 pm | 5000m | Women | FINAL |
| 8:05 pm | 10,000m | Men | FINAL |
Day 2: Friday 9 October 2026 (14 finals)
The half marathon race walks start before sunrise. The evening has both 400m finals, the men’s 100m final and the last event of the decathlon.
| Time (IST) | Event | Category | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5:45 am | Half marathon race walk | Men | FINAL |
| 5:47 am | Half marathon race walk | Women | FINAL |
| 7:30 am | 110m hurdles | Men | Decathlon |
| 8:10 am | Discus throw | Men | Decathlon |
| 9:40 am | Pole vault | Men | Decathlon |
| 5:00 pm | Javelin throw | Men | Decathlon |
| 5:30 pm | 100m hurdles | Women | Round 1 |
| 6:00 pm | 400m | Women | FINAL |
| 6:10 pm | 400m | Men | FINAL |
| 6:20 pm | Shot put | Women | FINAL |
| 6:30 pm | Triple jump | Men | FINAL |
| 6:30 pm | 100m | Men | FINAL |
| 6:40 pm | Discus throw | Men | FINAL |
| 6:50 pm | 110m hurdles | Men | FINAL |
| 7:10 pm | 100m hurdles | Women | FINAL |
| 7:25 pm | 1500m | Women | FINAL |
| 7:35 pm | 1500m | Men | FINAL |
| 7:45 pm | 1500m | Men | FINAL Decathlon (final event) |
| 8:00 pm | 4x100m mixed relay | Mixed | FINAL |
Day 3: Saturday 10 October 2026 (11 finals)
The heptathlon begins in the morning. The evening has both 4x100m relays, the women’s 10,000m and the men’s 5000m, and ends with the 4x400m mixed relay.
| Time (IST) | Event | Category | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:30 am | 100m hurdles | Women | Heptathlon |
| 8:15 am | High jump | Women | Heptathlon |
| 4:30 pm | 400m hurdles | Men | Round 1 |
| 4:40 pm | Pole vault | Women | FINAL |
| 4:45 pm | Shot put | Men | FINAL |
| 4:50 pm | 400m hurdles | Women | Round 1 |
| 5:00 pm | Hammer throw | Women | FINAL |
| 5:15 pm | 200m | Women | Round 1 |
| 5:20 pm | High jump | Men | FINAL |
| 5:30 pm | 200m | Men | Round 1 |
| 6:00 pm | 200m | Women | Heptathlon |
| 6:15 pm | Shot put | Women | Heptathlon |
| 6:15 pm | Javelin throw | Women | FINAL |
| 6:20 pm | 800m | Men | Round 1 |
| 6:35 pm | 4x100m relay | Women | FINAL |
| 6:40 pm | Long jump | Women | FINAL |
| 6:45 pm | 4x100m relay | Men | FINAL |
| 7:00 pm | 10,000m | Women | FINAL |
| 7:40 pm | 5000m | Men | FINAL |
| 8:00 pm | 4x400m mixed relay | Mixed | FINAL |
Day 4: Sunday 11 October 2026 (16 finals)
The final day is the biggest: 16 finals, including the 200m, 800m, 400m hurdles, both steeplechases, the men’s javelin and the 4x400m relays.
| Time (IST) | Event | Category | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5:40 am | Marathon race walk | Men | FINAL |
| 5:42 am | Marathon race walk | Women | FINAL |
| 8:30 am | Long jump | Women | Heptathlon |
| 9:45 am | Javelin throw | Women | Heptathlon |
| 5:20 pm | Javelin throw | Men | FINAL |
| 5:30 pm | 400m hurdles | Men | FINAL |
| 5:45 pm | 400m hurdles | Women | FINAL |
| 5:50 pm | High jump | Women | FINAL |
| 6:00 pm | 200m | Women | FINAL |
| 6:10 pm | 200m | Men | FINAL |
| 6:20 pm | 800m | Women | FINAL |
| 6:30 pm | 800m | Men | FINAL |
| 6:35 pm | Long jump | Men | FINAL |
| 6:40 pm | 800m | Women | FINAL Heptathlon (final event) |
| 7:00 pm | 3000m steeplechase | Men | FINAL |
| 7:20 pm | 3000m steeplechase | Women | FINAL |
| 7:40 pm | 4x400m relay | Women | FINAL |
| 7:50 pm | 4x400m relay | Men | FINAL |
Three points are worth noting from the schedule. To begin with, the schedule lists the men’s 110m hurdles and the women’s 800m as straight finals, with no heats. Similarly, the 200m has only one round before the final. Finally, the men’s discus is the only field event with a qualification round, held in two groups on Thursday morning with a qualifying mark of 58.50m.
The schedule is version 1.0. AFI can revise timings once it confirms the final entries, so check the latest version before you travel to the stadium.
National Open Athletics Championships 2026 results
Competition starts on Thursday 8 October. After that, we will add the results of every final to this section after each session, together with the official result sheets. Until then, results from every other AFI meet this season are on our Indian athletics results page.
Decathlon and heptathlon schedule
The men’s decathlon is on Thursday and Friday. It starts with the 100m at 7:30 am on 8 October and then finishes with the 1500m at 7:45 pm on 9 October. Similarly, the women’s heptathlon is on Saturday and Sunday. It starts with the 100m hurdles at 7:30 am on 10 October and then finishes with the 800m at 6:40 pm on 11 October.
Who can compete at the National Open
Entries come from state and union territory athletics associations as well as from recognised sports boards and institutions. According to the AFI circular, an athlete must have achieved the entry standard and must also meet one of two conditions:
Eligibility conditions
- Took part in the 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships this year, or
- Took part in at least four competitions organised directly by AFI in 2026
| Rule | What the circular says |
|---|---|
| Athletes per event | Maximum three per state or board |
| Events per athlete | Two individual events and two relays |
| Relay teams | One team per state or board in each relay, up to six athletes named |
| Relay eligibility | Every relay runner must have the individual entry standard |
| Entry window | 7 to 28 September 2026, online only (now closed) |
| Entry fee | ₹1,000 per event per athlete; ₹1,000 per relay team |
National Open 2026 entry standards
Athletes needed these marks in order to enter. They are also a useful benchmark for younger athletes who want to know what national senior level looks like.
| Event | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 100m | 10.75 | 12.10 |
| 200m | 21.75 | 24.50 |
| 400m | 48.00 | 57.50 |
| 800m | 1:52.50 | 2:11.00 |
| 1500m | 3:52.00 | 4:32.00 |
| 5000m | 14:30.00 | 17:20.00 |
| 10,000m | 30:30.00 | 38:30.00 |
| 110m / 100m hurdles | 14.30 | 15.00 |
| 400m hurdles | 53.00 | 1:02.00 |
| 3000m steeplechase | 9:10.00 | 11:00.00 |
| High jump | 2.05m | 1.65m |
| Pole vault | 4.50m | 3.00m |
| Long jump | 7.35m | 5.90m |
| Triple jump | 15.40m | 12.50m |
| Shot put | 16.50m | 13.00m |
| Discus throw | 52.00m | 45.00m |
| Javelin throw | 70.00m | 42.00m |
| Hammer throw | 60.00m | 52.00m |
| Half marathon race walk | 1:33:00 | 1:50:00 |
| Marathon race walk | 3:21:00 | 4:20:00 |
| Decathlon / Heptathlon | 6200 points | 4500 points |
| 4x100m relay (each runner, 100m) | 10.90 | 12.40 |
| 4x400m relay (each runner, 400m) | 49.00 | 1:00.00 |
Starting heights in the jumps
| Event | Starting height | How the bar goes up |
|---|---|---|
| Men’s high jump | 1.95m | 5cm steps to 2.10m, 3cm steps to 2.22m, then 2cm |
| Women’s high jump | 1.55m | 5cm steps to 1.70m, 3cm steps to 1.82m, then 2cm |
| Men’s pole vault | 4.30m | 20cm steps to 4.70m, 10cm steps to 5.10m, then 5cm |
| Women’s pole vault | 2.80m | 20cm steps to 3.60m, 10cm steps to 4.00m, then 5cm |
What athletes and families should know before travelling
Checklist from the AFI circular
- Carry your AFI UID card. You must show it in the call room whenever AFI or NADA officials ask for it.
- Arrange your own stay. AFI and the organisers do not provide boarding, lodging or local transport, so teams must plan these themselves.
- Dope testing will take place. The National Anti-Doping Agency collects the samples, and AFI also enforces a no-needle policy at the venue.
- Certificates are online. However, participation certificates go only to athletes who achieve the entry standard at the meet. In addition, AFI issues merit certificates only after it receives the dope test results.
The stadium also has its own stop on the Delhi Metro. Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium station is on the Violet Line.
Why this National Open matters
The meet comes four days after the close of the Asian Games in Nagoya, where India won 24 athletics medals. On AFI’s 2026 calendar it is the last national championship for senior athletes, which makes it the final chance of the season to win a national title or improve a ranking mark.
It has also been a record-heavy year. Our count had 26 national records by mid-July, and more have fallen since. For athletes who missed selection for Nagoya, four days in Delhi are therefore an opportunity to end the season with a statement.
Last year: Ranchi 2025
Ranchi hosted the 64th National Open from 27 to 30 September 2025. Manikanta Hoblidhar won the men’s 100m, Rajesh Ramesh won the 400m, Samardeep Singh Gill beat Tajinderpal Singh Toor in the shot put, and Rishabh Nehra won the javelin with a throw beyond 80m.